So I have a question about SMTIV. If I have an opportunity to choose between fighting a boss demon and fighting some putz with a supped up hoard of trash mobs, will I miss anything if I opt for taking out the trash rather than fighting the boss?

I think I know which part you're talking about. I opted for the trash mob, I think it later opens up an optional side quest where you can fight said boss anyway. I'm pretty your decision affects your alignment as well.

So I have a question about SMTIV. If I have an opportunity to choose between fighting a boss demon and fighting some putz with a supped up hoard of trash mobs, will I miss anything if I opt for taking out the trash rather than fighting the boss?

I think I know which part you're talking about. I opted for the trash mob, I think it later opens up an optional side quest where you can fight said boss anyway. I'm pretty your decision affects your alignment as well.

Oh cool. I knew about the alignment change since I wanted to lean towards Chaos for now so that I can swing back toward Neutral when the big decision comes up, but both guides on GameFAQs are laden with spoilers and didn't mention anything of relevance within the parts of the game I had already covered so I figured this was the next best place to ask.

But still, for future reference, will making similar choices down the line lock me out of something like a particular Special Fusion?

There are a number of fusions specific to certain alignments, but you can carry them over between playthroughs. The alignment "lock" doesn't happen to much pretty the end game though, and everything before that is shared.

There are a number of fusions specific to certain alignments, but you can carry them over between playthroughs. The alignment "lock" doesn't happen to much pretty the end game though, and everything before that is shared.

My bad, I should've been clearer on my question.

I meant can I fuse the demon if I never fight the guy in the first place (alignment be dammed)?

I'm asking about the guy you need to fight for the talisman needed to enter Ikebukuro. I opted to kick the teeth of the Ashura-Kai thug and his pack of Harpies in instead. Between worrying about missing a special fusion and the possibility of encountering a similar situation with the Ring of Gaea, I wanted an answer that didn't involve me spoilering the hell out of myself to look up in the process.

Yeah, I don't want to get into console favoritism here, but what exactly would be wrong about EO on Vita?

It's not so much wrong as that the library will be locked off from reprinting or continued digital distribution on the rival's platforms if one of the platform holders got Atlus, and the games from the opposite platform may not do as well on the new one. Even if we still got EO you'd be potentially uprooting much of their base, or it'll be a harder sell. Unless they somehow came up with a special Atlus exception on multiplatform I just couldn't see either Sony or Nintendo being all that good for many reasons, nevermind MICROSOFT.

Yeah, I don't want to get into console favoritism here, but what exactly would be wrong about EO on Vita?

It's not so much wrong as that the library will be locked off from reprinting or continued digital dsitribution on the rival's platforms if one of the platform holders got Atlus, and the games from the opposite platform may not do as well on the new one. Even if we still got EO you'd be potentially uprooting much of their base, or it'll be a harder sell. Unless they somehow came up with a special Atlus exception on multiplatform I just couldn't see either Sony or Nintendo being all that good for many reasons, nevermind MICROSOFT.

Oh, I wasn't really advocating a Sony acquisition or anything. I was just curious what you thought wouldn't work about something like EO on Vita. And I got a lot of responses ;)

I don't know, I still think it would be pretty doable. You've got a full touch screen, after all. Would require some interface changes, sure, but I think it could be done.

There are a number of fusions specific to certain alignments, but you can carry them over between playthroughs. The alignment "lock" doesn't happen to much pretty the end game though, and everything before that is shared.

My bad, I should've been clearer on my question.

I meant can I fuse the demon if I never fight the guy in the first place (alignment be dammed)?

I'm asking about the guy you need to fight for the talisman needed to enter Ikebukuro. I opted to kick the teeth of the Ashura-Kai thug and his pack of Harpies in instead. Between worrying about missing a special fusion and the possibility of encountering a similar situation with the Ring of Gaea, I wanted an answer that didn't involve me spoilering the hell out of myself to look up in the process.

There are a number of fusions specific to certain alignments, but you can carry them over between playthroughs. The alignment "lock" doesn't happen to much pretty the end game though, and everything before that is shared.

My bad, I should've been clearer on my question.

I meant can I fuse the demon if I never fight the guy in the first place (alignment be dammed)?

I'm asking about the guy you need to fight for the talisman needed to enter Ikebukuro. I opted to kick the teeth of the Ashura-Kai thug and his pack of Harpies in instead. Between worrying about missing a special fusion and the possibility of encountering a similar situation with the Ring of Gaea, I wanted an answer that didn't involve me spoilering the hell out of myself to look up in the process.